Betting on the “Sweet Science” of Boxing

Putting two fighters against each other in the ring, mano-a-mano, boxing is one of the most exhilarating sports in the world. Bloody chess. A combat sport with so many different styles and weight classes, boxing rarely ceases to entertain, both in it’s brutality and “fixed fights”.

The one-on-one matchups make online boxing betting a unique and often profitable handicapping experience. Especially if you can figure out whom the judges have the fix on! Boxing is not really bet on like it used to, but when fights draw celebrities, the big bets come out. There were a lot of nervous looking celebrities during the Pacquiao/Mayweather let down. It draws the wealthy bettors from history to now. Anyway, here are some tips.

Boxers Recent Record Most Important

One of the main things that separate boxing from many professional sports is the necessity to delve in deeper to records and not just take them at face value. In professional basketball, baseball, football, and hockey, a glance at a team’s win-loss record will give you a good indication of how strong that team is. In boxing, on the other hand, two boxers may have an identical record of 18-3 with 13 knockouts; but depending on who those 21 opponents were, this might be an outstanding record or an awful one. I’ve witnessed some of the most blatant record building in my visits to Tijuana, Mexico. Everyone in the boxing game knows it goes on, but most bettors have no clue.

When researching the boxers in the match you are planning to bet on, the more information you can gather on past opponents, the better. But keep in mind that you should always consider recent form (a boxer’s last 2-5 fights) far more important than what came before it, especially if you are looking to bet on the internet. There are many reasons for this:

First, the nature of the sport; up-and-coming boxers are often matched up against scrubs early in their careers to build up experience and exposure. A 12-0 start may look impressive, but if the 12 wins all came against perennial losers and gym rats, they don’t really tell us much about how this boxer fares against more worthy opponents. 14-2 still doesn’t look bad, but if you see that a boxer is 2-2 in his most recent fights, it may be because the competition has ramped up.

Secondly, a lot can change in a boxer’s career, especially over the course of a few years. Some boxers may have racked up losses early on in their career while boxing against superior opponents, but have since taken steps forward in their development. This could be due to a new trainer, increased focus, a change in weight class, or any number of other factors. Don’t hold a boxer’s past against him if he’s getting it done in the here and now against quality opponents.

Thirdly, is injuries. Boxing is a physical sport in which injuries are very commonplace. A once-dominant boxer may now be struggling with a lingering injury, or perhaps has become more timid after suffering a bad injury a few months ago. On the flip side, a boxer that wasn’t fully healthy that has since recovered may be a completely different fighter than he was a year or two ago. Knee problems usually don’t go away, and many boxers go out on the losing sides of their last few fights. After that it’s game over.

The list goes on, but the message is clear; a boxer’s recent form is a much better indicator of how they will fight today than their career numbers are. By studying each boxer’s most recent fights and seeing if they are trending upwards or downwards, you should be able to find good value in online boxing betting these trends accordingly.

Watch “Faceoff” or “24/7″ When You Can

These two television shows devulge into the lives of “prize fighters”. While most lines setters also watch these TV shows, the general sports bettor may only see one or two episodes. These TV shows display a lot of information about the fighters current lifestyle, unfortunately sparring sessions are almost always blocked from being aired. I like to watch these shows for potential exotic bets that I may place wagers on. The shows give a good insight into the fighter, and watching previous youtube “Best of Highlight” videos are a great way to get an idea on announcer favorites – who are generally very accurate (Roy Jones predominantly) with their predictions.

Tips and Strategies to Help You Win

Recent form is one very important element to boxing betting, but there are plenty of other factors that must be considered. Understanding the importance of boxing styles, how training regimens can affect fights, and how to collect information on fighters can be the difference between winning and losing.

In our wagering strategies and tips section, we have broken down each of these key elements of boxing handicapping in great depth. With a solid understanding of these betting tips and strategies, you will be one step closer to taking your boxing betting experience to the next level.

Types of Boxing Bets

The most common type of boxing bet is a moneyline wager on who will win, but that is far from the only way to bet the sport. Other types of bets include boxing over/unders, parlays, and proposition betting.

I like Bovada (review) because they have a lot of exotics, which I like to bet for fun. Theirs odds aren’t the best industry wide on most boxing events but it’s like the Ritz Carlton of sports betting online to most gamblers. More options, slightly less in odds.